If you lived in Maldives instead of United States, you would:

be 76.2% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese. In Maldives, that number is 8.6% of people.

live 4.2 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women). In Maldives, that number is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women).

Economy

be 34.1% less likely to be unemployed

In United States, 4.4% of adults are unemployed. In Maldives, that number is 2.9%.

make 67.9% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $59,500, while in Maldives, the GDP per capita is $19,100.

Life

have 28.8% more children

In United States, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people. In Maldives, there are 16.1 babies per 1,000 people.

be 4.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 14.0 women per 1,000 births die during labor. In Maldives, 68.0 women do.

be 3.8 times more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.8 children die before they reach the age of one. In Maldives, on the other hand, 22.0 children do.

Basic Needs

be 22.4% less likely to have internet access

In United States, approximately 76.2% of the population has internet access. In Maldives, about 59.1% do.

Expenditures

spend 14.0% less on education

United States spends 5.0% of its total GDP on education. Maldives spends 4.3% of total GDP on education.

spend 19.9% less on healthcare

United States spends 17.1% of its total GDP on healthcare. In Maldives, that number is 13.7% of GDP.

Geography

see 96.8% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Maldives, that number is 644 km.

Maldives: At a glance

Maldives is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 298 sq km. A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. Following political demonstrations in the capital Male in August 2003, the president and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless, political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been jailed several years earlier by the former regime. President NASHEED faced a number of challenges including strengthening democracy and combating poverty and drug abuse. In early February 2012, after several weeks of street protests following his sacking of a top judge, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. In mid-2012, a Commission of National Inquiry was set by the government to probe events leading up to NASHEED's resignation. Though the commission found no evidence of a coup, the report recommended the need to strengthen the country's democratic institutions to avert similar events in the future, and to further investigate alleged police misconduct during the crisis. Maldivian officials have played a prominent role in international climate change discussions (due to the islands' low elevation and the threat from sea-level rise) on the UN Human Rights Council and in other international forums, as well as in encouraging regional cooperation, especially between India and Pakistan.

How big is Maldives compared to United States?
See an in-depth size comparison.